Cryobiology · Nov 6, 2026

Short-term whole-body cooling during fasting affects fine motor skills and modulates neuromuscular control in females: a quasi-randomized crossover trial

By Solianik R, Roelands B, Brazaitis M

This study aimed to determine whether 2 consecutive days with 10-min whole-body exposures to 14 °C water would attenuate the fasting-evoked decline in fine motor skills, and whether cold exposure would alter fasting-induced adaptive responses at the spinal or supraspinal level. Thirteen young females completed 2 days of fasting with two 10-min cold-water immersions (FAST–COLD), 2 days of fasting without cold exposure (FAST), 2 days of usual diet with cold exposure, and 2 days of usual diet without cold exposure (CON) in a randomized crossover design. Changes in catecholamines, fine motor skills, reflex responses (V-wave, H-wave, M-wave), involuntary muscle torque, central activation ratio (CAR), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and drop-jump (DJ) performance were assessed. Catecholamine concentrations and the time to complete the fine motor skills test increased only in the FAST trial, whereas test time decreased in the CON trial. Although DJ performance and MVC remained unchanged across trials, both FAST and FAST–COLD increased Vsup latency and reduced the Hmax/Mmax ratio. However, only FAST decreased CAR and Mmax amplitude. To conclude, fasting activated the sympathetic nervous system and impaired fine motor skills in females, whereas combining fasting with cold exposure may attenuate this decline. However, all interventions prevented the practice-related improvement observed in the CON trial. Cold exposure prevented fasting-induced impairments in central activation and sarcolemmal excitability, yet it did not counteract the fasting-related reductions in spinal excitability. Despite these physiological alterations, ankle MVC and jump performance remained preserved across all conditions.

doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2026.105908PubMed 42994337Mechanisms